Apparatus for aligning continuous casting mold with the casting metal supply vessel

ABSTRACT

In case of oscillating chills, mechanical disturbances in operation of the installation frequently occur because the chill sticks to the nozzle or when a large one-sided deposit between the nozzle and the interior wall of the chill is formed, which affects the life of this part. This shows that these mechanical disturbances can be basically associated with the nozzle slightly changing its position and/or its direction in the course of the casting process. This position or direction change of the nozzle is connected with the thermal effects, those to which the wall of the casting container supporting the nozzle is exposed. The changes of the position between the surface of the nozzle and the wall of the chill resulting from the changes of the position, or direction, of the nozzle can also lead to molten metal entering the slot between the corresponding opposed surfaces of the chill and of the nozzle, which occasionally leads to blocking of the chill when this metal solidifies in the slot.

United States Patent 1 Bieri 1 Apr. 4, 1972 s41 APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING3,482,621 12/1969 l-lalliday ..l64/281 CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD WITH THECASTING METAL SUPPLY VESSEL [72] Inventor: Hans Bieri, Oberrick,Switzerland [73] Assignee: Erik Olsson AG, Zurich, Switzerland [22]Filed: July 15, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 841,832

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 19, 1968 Switzerland ..10868[52] U.S. Cl... ..164/28l, 164/82 [5 l] Int. Cl ..B22d 11/10 [58] FieldofSearch ..164/82,273,28l,282, 283

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,789,328 4/1957 Ackermannet al. .....164/283 3,040,396 6/1962 Hudson 164/276 X 3,166,803 l/l965Ruckstuhl.... 164/283 3,516,479 6/1970 Kurth et al ..l64/283 X PrimaryExaminerR. Spencer Annear Attorney-Pamelee, Utzler & Welsh [57] ABSTRACTIn case of oscillating chills, mechanical disturbances in operation ofthe installation frequently occur because the chill sticks to the nozzleor when a large one-sided deposit between the nozzle and the interiorwall of the chill is formed, which affects the life of this part. Thisshows that these mechanical disturbances can be basically associatedwith the nozzle slightly changing its position and/or its direction inthe course of the casting process. This position or direction change ofthe nozzle is connected with the thermal effects, those to which thewall of the casting container supporting the nozzle is exposed. Thechanges of the position between the surface of the nozzle and the wallof the chill resulting from the changes of the position, or direction,of the nozzle can also lead to molten metal entering the slot betweenthe corresponding opposed surfaces of the chill and of the nozzle,'whichoccasionally leads to blocking of the chill when this metal solidifiesin the slot.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Casting Con fainer KLZ rCh/l/ Patented April4, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet l +wwmmwm wwwhu 1 9m. & 2

INVEW TOR. HA NS B/ER/ Attorneys Patented April 4, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOH. HANS 81E Attorneys Patented April 4, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 W.Mai mm INVEN TOR. HANS B/ER/ A r tor/rays APPARATUS FOR ALIGNINGCONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD WITH THE CASTING METAL SUPPLY VESSEL SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The present invention has for its object the constructionof an apparatus for continuous casting which eliminates disturbances incasting practice resulting from changes of the position or direction ofthe casting nozzle.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by supporting thechill so that it could move in operation transversely to itslongitudinal axis. Operational mobility of the chill transverse to itslongitudinal direction and therefore transverse to the oscillationexerted commonly in the longitudinal direction permits the chill toadjust itself to the position and direction of the casting nozzle.According to a preferred way of reduction to practice, the mobility ofthe chill transverse to its longitudinal axis is achieved by adjustablysupporting it at two points spaced in the direction of the axis by meansof Cardan or universal joints, one of the universal joints beingsupported by the casting container. According to a particularlypreferred way of reduction to practice, the joint provided on thecasting container is formed by the nozzle itself or a correspondingshape of a shoulder surrounding the nozzle on its front end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings are presented severalexemplary ways of reducing the apparatus for continuous castingaccording to the invention to practice. They show:

FIGS. 1 and 2 a schematic presentation of the principle on which theinvention is based;

FIG. 3 a possible reduction to practice of the apparatus in applicationto a horizontal continuous casting installation in a longitudinalsection;

FIG 4-a second reduction to practice of the apparatus in arepresentation corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 5-the apparatus according to FIG. 4 with the chill removed, and

FIG. 6a section along the VI-VI line in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS ln FIGS. 1 and 2 areschematically presented both possible deviations of axis M of thecasting nozzle in respect to the axis of the guide rolls designated asS. In the case shown in FIG. 1, axis M is parallelly displaced inrespect to axis S of the extend of x, while in case depicted in FIG. 2,axis M forms angle a with axis S.

In order to be movable transverse to its longitudinal axis according tothe invention, in in case of FIG. 1 the chill 6, for adjusting itsposition to that of the nozzle, must be supported as providing only fora parallel shifting. In case of FIG. 2, an adjustment of the chill tothe nozzle requires also the swinging of the former.

It follows from the schematic representation of FIGS. 1 and 2 thatsupporting the chill 6 in the vicinity of its both ends on Cardan oruniversal bearings permits taking up both deviations of the position anddefinition of the direction of the nozzle or its axis M. This isparticularly simple to achieve, because the universal joint KL, mountedon the inlet side of chill K, follows the nozzle, or its axis, in spaceby providing this joint on the nozzle itself, for example. Universaljoint KL, mounted at the exit side of chill K is, self understood, sosupported that the axis of the chill always intersects axis S of theguide rolls (or if necessary coincides with it). In both cases shown inthe drawings the chill axis and the guide rolls axis intersect at a and,8 angle.

In the exemplary reduction to practice presented in FIG. 3, referencenumeral 2 indicates a casting container, nozzle 4 placed on it, chill 6,and guide rolls 8. Casting container 2 is supported on a slide 10, whichis movable in casting direction on rollers 12 fastened on base 14. Slideis operated by cylinder 16, above which the casting container can bemoved horizontally back and forth.

Another slide 20 moved on rolls 18 and operated by cylinder 22 supportschill 6 which can be moved in the direction of casting. For this purposeslide 20 carries on its end close to guide rolls 8 support 24 whichsupports ball joint 26, 28. Part 26 of the ball joint is rigidly mountedon the support,

and part 28 thereof on the chill.

Another ball joint 30, 32 is provided on the inlet end of the chill, therace 32 of which is mounted in the supporting ring 34. Supporting ring32 surrounds nozzle 4 and slides over it. v In order to support chill 6on its inlet end when supporting ring 34 is out of contact with thenozzle, for example when the latter must be changed, slide 20 carriesvertically-adjustable fork 36.

From the explanation of the structure of the apparatus in FIG. 3, itfollows that chill 6 used in operating a continuous casting installationcan be adequately adjusted to the deviations of the position and thedirection of the nozzle presented in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In order to improve the installation and sliding relation between theinner wall of the chill 6 and the outer wall of the nozzle 4, the frontend of nozzle 4 can have a collar with a spherical or conical surface.

The construction of the nozzle given in the examples of reducing topractice in FIGS. 4 to 6 serves the same purpose as the nozzle 4described earlier. Nozzle 40 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 carries on its freeend a narrow spherical or cylindrical collar 42 around which chill 6 canmove articulately and on which it rests directly.

A further difference of the apparatus according to FIGS. 4 to 6 consistsin taking up a portion of the weight of the chill normally supported bythe nozzle by a weight equalizer generally designated as 44. Weightequalizer 44 consists of a vertically disposed cylinder 46 mounted onslide 20 and piston 48 movable in the cylinder which during theoperation of the continuous casting installation is pressed against thelower side of chill 6. The force, generated by hydraulic or pneumaticmeans, for example, corresponds here to the portion of the chill weightto be supported.

Supporting fork 36 in the exemplary reduction to practice given in FIG.3 is replaced in the exemplary reduction to practice of FIGS. 4 to 6 byfork 50 swingedly mounted on slide 20, FIG. 6, and which is providedwith two set screws 52. In operation of the installation, fork 50 isturned down, as it is shown in FIG. 4; when the casting container 2 isbrought in the position shown in FIG. 5, in which nozzle 40 is notengaged any more with the chill, fork 50 is swung upward, and the frontend of the chill is supported by set screws 52.

As for the rest, the installation according to FIGS. 4 and 6 correspondsto the installation of FIG. 3.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for continuous casting comprising:

a container for receiving molten metal and having a discharge noulerigidly fixed to a wall thereof and communicating with the interiorthereof;

chill means having an inlet opening sized and shaped to receive saiddischarge nozzle in a sealed relationship therewith;

means for supporting said container and said chill means and foreffecting relative movement therebetween at least in an axial directionrelative to the outlet of said discharge nozzle; and

means comprising two universal joints arranged in axial spacedrelationship with said chill means for supporting said chill means in alimited transverse movable relationship with the outlet of saiddischarge nozzle, whereby said chill means is transversely movable tofollow any inadvertent lateral displacement between the ends of saiddischarge nozzle and the inlet opening of said chill means. Apparatusfor continuous casting comprising:

a container for receiving molten metal and having a discharge nozzlerigidly fixed to a wall thereof and communicating with the interiorthereof;

chill means having an inlet opening sized and shaped to receive saiddischarge nozzle in a sealed relationship therewith;

means for supporting said container and said chill means and foreffecting relative movement therebetween at least in an axial directionrelative to the outlet of said discharge nozzle; and

means comprising two universal joints for supporting said chill means ina limited transverse movable relationship with the outlet of saiddischarge nozzle, one of said joints being supported at the end of saidchill means away from said inlet opening and the other being connectedto said discharge nozzle and engaging the inlet opening end portion ofsaid chill means, whereby said chill means is transversely movable tofollow any inadvertent lateral displacement between the ends of saiddischarge nozzle and in the inlet opening of said chill means.

3. Apparatus for continuous casting comprising:

a container for receiving molten metal and having a discharge nozzlerigidly fixed to a wall thereof and communicating with the interiorthereof;

chill means having an inlet opening sized and shaped to receive saiddischarge nozzle in a sealed relationship therewith;

means for supporting said container and said chill means and foreffecting relative movement therebetween at least in an axial directionrelative to the outlet of said discharge nozzle; and

means comprising a universal joint supported at the end of 4. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said other universal joint issupported by a collar arranged on said discharged nozzle.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said other universaljoint is adjacent the outlet plane of said discharge nozzle.

1. Apparatus for continuous casting comprising: a container forreceiving molten metal and having a discharge nozzle rigidly fixed to awall thereof and communicating with the interior thereof; chill meanshaving an inlet opening sized and shaped to receive said dischargenozzle in a sealed relationship therewith; means for supporting saidcontainer and said chill means and for effecting relative movementtherebetween at least in an axial direction relative to the outlet ofsaid discharge nozzle; and means comprising two universal jointsarranged in axial spaced relationship with said chill means forsupporting said chill means in a limited transverse movable relationshipwith the outlet of said discharge nozzle, whereby said chill means istransversely movable to follow any inadvertent lateral displacementbetween the ends of said discharge nozzle and the inlet opening of saidchill means.
 2. Apparatus for continuous casting comprising: a containerfor receiving molten metal and having a discharge nozzle rigidly fixedto a wall thereof and communicating with the interior thereof; chillmeans having an inlet opening sized and shaped to receive said dischargenozzle in a sealed relationship therewith; means for supporting saidcontainer and said chill means and for effecting relative movementtherebetween at least in an axial direction relative to the outlet ofsaid discharge nozzle; and means comprising two universal joints forsupporting said chill means in a limited transverse movable relationshipwith the outlet of said discharge nozzle, one of said joints beingsupported at the end of said chill means away from said inlet openingand the other being connected to said discharge nozzle and engaging theinlet opening end portion of said chill means, whereby said chill meansis transversely movable to follow any inadvertent lateral displacementbetween the ends of said discharge nozzle and in the inlet opening ofsaid chill means.
 3. Apparatus for continuous casting comprising: acontainer for receiving molten metal and having a discharge nozzlerigidly fixed to a wall thereof and communicating with the interiorthereof; chill means having an inlet opening sized and shaped to receivesaid discharge nozzle in a sealed relationship therewith; means forsupporting said container and said chill means and for effectingrelative movement therebetween at least in an axial direction relativeto the outlet of said discharge nozzle; and means comprising a universaljoint supported at the end of said chill means away from said inletopening and resilient means engaging the inlet end portion of said chillmeans for supporting said chill means in a limited transverse movablerelationship with the outlet of said discharge nozzle, whereby saidchill means is transversely movable to follow any inadvertent lateraldisplacement between the ends of said discharge nozzle and the inletopening of said chill means.
 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2wherein said other universal joint is supported by a collar arranged onsaid discharged nozzle.
 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid other universal joint is adjacent the outlet plane of saiddischarge nozzle.